Tube cutoff machine



1951 N. 0. ABBEY 2,562,879

TUBE CUTOFF MACHINE Filed April 21, 1948 3-Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.Nelson D. Abbey mu/w ML A OR EV Aug. 7, 1951 N. D. ABBEY TUBE CUTOFFMACHINE Filed April 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Ne/son D. flbbeg ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1951 N. n. ABBEY TUBE CUTOFF MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 21, 1948 INVENTOR. Nf/Jon D Abbey BY ATTORNEYPatented Aug. 7, 1951 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE eurfizifirncmun Application April 21, 194.8,; Serial No. 22,376

4 Claims. (01. 164-60.)

invention relates to tube cut-off ma.- ohines. but. more particularlyto. machines of this Character which are self-contained and whichoperate recurrently to sever a finite length of tubing of indefinitelength into predetermined, l n ths.

An object of the invention is to produce a tube. cut-ofi machine whichis so constructed. and arranged that the cuttings fallv by gravity fromthe. machine. so that liability of their injuring ordamaging workingparts of the machine is elimi-. nated or. Substantially reduced.

Another object. is to produce a tube cut-off carriage which is mountedfor translatory movement along with the tube in an elevated position toafford ample space for the cuttings and the ike. formed, during the tubecutting operation to. tall. y vity away om the. machine- A furtherobject is. to improve the drive for the. cutting tools in order tosimplify the, design and. compact the mechanism so that it occupies lessspace.

A still further object. is to produce a, cut-off mechanism in which the.actuating, mechanism for the tool carrier has. increased support duringits rotary and axial shifting movements in. con,- centric, relation tothe rotary drive for the tool carrier.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear and for purposes ofillustration but not. i limitation, an embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinalelevation of, a. tube cut-off machine in which the cu-t off unit is1-15-- pended and is mounted for translatory move, ments with the tubeto. be. severed;

Figure 2 is a, vertical sectional elevation sub- Stantially on the line2-2 of Figure. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary levation f ne of the. ool carriers;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse. sectional view substantially on theline 4-4 of Figure, 3;

Figure, 5 is a perspective viewshowingtwo. parts to, which. the toolcarrier is connected. and which cooperate with the tool actuating collaror Sle 7 Figure 6. is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of thecut-01f. mechanism and associated parts; and a Figure 7 is a fragmentarysectional view Showthe connection. between. thefiywheel and innorsleeve. I

The. illustrated embodiment of the. invention comprisesa name hav g a.base Ill: f. subs-tantially ectangular e o ga e form from. which. r se,

'f 2, which are. connected by horizontal. tubes 12.. suitable means maybe employed for bracing hev frame in order to make it sufficiently rigidand sturdy for. the purpose intended. suspended. from the parallel tubesI2. is a tube cut-off unit; C. which is provided on opposite sides. withpairs, of, grooved rollers [3. which ride. along the horizontal tubes l2respectively, it being understood that a. pair of rollers i3 is providedon opposite sides of the cut-off unit C. It. will. be apparent,- from aninspection of Figure 1 that the bulk of the cut-off. unit C is suspendedfrom. the horizon-- tal tubes. 12, the broken line. T indicating thetube. to. be cut. off and the same passing through the. eutrofi unitjC,substantially beneath the tubes or tracks. i2.

The cut-off unit C has a pair of brackets, M. to which the ends, of a,chain 15 are. adiustably an ohored, The. chain passes over anidlersprocket. U5- carried by a suitable bracket l-l secured to. one endof the frame. At the opposite. end of the frame is .a drive sprocket. [8about which. the... chain is trained and the sprocket wheel l8. iscarried by a bracket l9. secured to. the adjacent. frame. structure. Thedrive sprocket, l8 is driven by a concentric sheave 2.0, which receivesa belt 2.1;, the beltv 21 passing about. a. smaller sheave concentric.with an electric motor 22. which. is. fixed to they bracket l9 andspaced above the sheave 20,. Preferably the electric motor 22 is of thereversible type so that the cut-ofi unit C may be shifted longitudinallyin one direction or the other along the tubular tracks 12. Any suitable;switch, controls (not. shown). may be employed for the. motor 22. Forexample, the. operation. of the. motor 22. may be controlled byswitchesactuated by the cut-off unit C. so that at the end. of its.advancing movement, 13118311101701 22v is reversed, to retract thecut-off unit. until the latter reaches a predetermined position, at.which time,

another switch deenergizes the motor. The advantageous. features. of theabove de.--- scribed structure aremultifold. For example the. abovecut-off unit throws the.- ehips resulting. from thev tube cuttingoperation freefrom the machine so that. they do not interfere with thesmooth running of the machine. Heretofora. with the. tube cut-ofi unitin a position reversed.

from thatv shown in Figure 1-,, so. that the cut-off.

mechanism is disposed. above the actuating. chains, the chips fell intothe chains andother ac.

tuatine' mechanism and not. infrequentlycaused:

sie nae t c si r-... a r ms o 3 accommodate operators, as well aselevated controls and the like. Therefore, this structure is ofparticular importance from the maintenance and operation standpoint.However, functionally, it is important in that it achieves moreefficient location of the center of gravity, enables more uniformacceleration of the tube cut-off unit C, such acceleration beingimportant so that the cut-off unit'attains virtually the speed ofadvancing movement of the tube T to be cut.

Likewise more uniform deceleration of move- 3 ment can be accomplished.A still further advantage resides in the greater stability of the thetube T is clamped by. a pair of clamping jaws .which are actuatedbytoggle links 26 through a suitable hydraulic unit 21. It will beremembered that the tube '1 which issues from a suitable tube mill isconstantly moving forwardly. Therefore, the advancing tube T is clampedby the jaws 25 and coincidentally therewith, the electric motor 22 isenergized through said suitable switch means to impart the advancingtranslatory movement to the cut-off mechanism.

Following the clamping of the tube T by the jaws 25, cutting tools 28suitably mounted in a tool carrier 29 advance toward the tube T toeffect the cutting operation. After the tube has been severed, the tools28 retract and subsequently the clamping jaws 25 are released, thereuponthe unit C may be retracted along the rails l2 until the next succeedingcut-01f operation is required.

' Forming a part of the tool carrier 29 is a member 30 against which isclamped a member 3| and each of the members 30 and 3| is formed with anelongate arcuate groove provided with screw threads 32 which cooperatewith each other. An adjusting screw 33 engages the complementary screwthreads on the members 30 and 3|, thereby to afford initial adjustmentof the tools 28 with respect to the tube to be severed. .As shown inFigure 4, the members 30 and 3| can move radially, their movement beingguided by a pair of gibs 34, each of which has a substantially V-shapedgroove to receive the tapering sides of the members 30 and 3|. I

Integral with the inner side of the member 30 and projecting atsubstantially right angles therefrom is a wedge member 35, the uppersurface of which slopes or tapers upwardly from its outer free end. Thewedge member 35 projects through an aperture 36 which is formed in theweb of a flywheel 31, the aperture 36 being eccentric with respect tothe flywheel web. As shown in the drawings, there are two tools 28, eachcarried by an individual carrier similar to the structure abovedescribed, but description of one carrier will suflice. The web of theflywheel 31 also is provided with a concentric aperture through whichthe tube T is adapted to pass. The web of the flywheel 31 abuts againstthe inner face of the tool carried 29 and is secured thereto so thatrotation of the flywheel is im-. parted to the tool carrier through akey 38. The flywheel is provided with a series of annular V grooves 39to receive V belts 40 which, as shown in Figure 2, are connected to asheave driven by an electric motor 4|.

, It will be observed that the wedge member 35 i's'in the main'housedwithin the flywheel 31 and also housed within the flywheel 31 is a wedge42,

' roller bearing units 52.

4 the lower face of which is tapered similarly to the upper face of thewedge member 35, a wear plate 43 of any suitable material providing theengaging surface for the wedge member 42. Manifestly, upon movement ofthe wedge 42 to the right of Figure 6, the wedge member 35 and theassociated tool carrier mechanism is moved radially inwardly ortoward-the tube T, thereby to bring the cutter tool 28 into engagementwith the tube T. Upon movement of the wedge 42 to the left of thefigure, the tool carrier is retracted by means of a coil spring 44, oneend of which engages the under side of the wedge member 35 and the lowerportion of which is disposed within a socket in the web of the flywheel31.

The wedge 42 is integral with a spool 45 which is mounted upon a, sleeve46. The spool 45 is formed with an elongate keyway 41 into which fits akey 43 carried bythe sleeve 46. This enables the sleev'e'45 to impartrotation to the spool 45 and also enables the spool 45 to shift axiallyalong the sleeve 46 toward and away from the wedge member 35, thusconcomitantly actuating both the cutting tools 28 to effect the cuttingoperation and also to enable the springs 44 to retract the tools toinoperative position.

The sleeve 45 has at one end an integral radial flange 49, the outerside of which abuts the adjacent side portion of the web of the flywheel31 and the peripheral surface of which abuts the inner circumference ofthe flywheel. The flange 49 is secured for rotation to the flywheel by akey 50 and is formed with a pair of slots 49a to provide clearance forthe wedging members 35 and 42. Thus it will be understood that rotationof the flywheel 31 is transmitted through the key 55 to the flange 49and thus to the sleeve 46 and through the-key 48 to the spool 45. Thusthe flywheel and spool rotate at the same rate of speed and since thewedge member 35 and wedge 42 revolve at the same rate of speed, theaxial shifting movement of the wedge 42 can readily be effected toachieve the advancing movement of the tools 28 and control theretraction thereof.

The sleeve 45 is mounted for rotation upon a supporting hub sleeve ortube 5| and interposed between the hub 5| and the sleeve 46 are two Inorder to militate against lubricant being thrown from the rollerbearings 52, rings 53 are disposed on the outer 7 side of each rollerbearing unit. At one end of the sleeve 46 is bolted a ring 54 formedwith a series of grooves at the inner side to cooperate with a shoulder55 on the hub 5| to provide a conventional grease labyrinth seal. Thehub 5| is provided with an external annular flange 56 adjacent one endand this flange is connected by bolts to a wall 51 of the stationarysupporting frame or housing. From the above description, it will beapparent that the hub 5| is rigidly supported through the medium of itsradial flange 56 at one end, the opposite end bein free from supportingconnection, the structure of the hub being suitably sturdy to supportthe sleeve 45 and spool 45.

A relatively thin wall liner tube 58 is disposed within the hub 5| andthrough the liner passes the tube T to be severed. As shown,'the liner58 is fixed at one end to an external ring 59' which fits in a groove inthe end portion of the hub 5| and is secured in place by a collar 65which is suitably bolted to the hub. The outer end portion of the Thespool 45 is formed with an annular groove 62 and engaging the side wallsof the groove are rollers 63 mounted on a reduced neck 64 of a head 65,ball bearings being interposed between the neck 64 and the roller. Thehead 65 is rigid with a shank '66 which reciprocates horizontally in astationary guide sleeve 61 projecting through an aperture in the housingwall 51. The shank 66 has secured to its inner end a piston rod 68 whichhas a piston 69 at its inner end. The piston 69 reciprocates in 'ahorizontally disposed cylinder ill to which a tube H admits pressurefluid at one end and a tube 12 admits pressure fluid at the oppositeend, thereby to drive the piston in one direction or the other.

As shown in Figure 6, there are two diametrically opposed hydraulicactuatin units as above described, these being of identicalconstruction. At the proper time, liquid under pressure is admitted tothe tube H to drive the piston 69 and associated parts and cause thespool 45 to move to the right of the figure and impart operative cuttingmovement to the cutting tools 28. Manifestly, by introducing liquidunder pressure to the tube 12, the piston 69 is driven to the left ofFigure 6, thereby moving the spool 45 and its wedge 42 away from thewedge 35 to allow the springs 44 to retract the cutting tools.

Reference is made to my co-pending application Serial No. 9,201, filedFebruary 18, 1948, wherein the hydraulic system is shown and describedfor efiecting the operation of the hydraulic actuating unit abovedescribed, as well as the hydraulic unit controlling the tube clampingjaws 25 hereinbefore described, but since the same forms no part of thepresent invention, detail illustration and description of that system isnot considered necessary here.

From the above description, it will be manifest that the driving andactuating mechanism for the cutting tools are greatly compacted, thenumber of parts substantially reduced, and an extremely eflicientarrangement is provided.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be efiected without departing from thespirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said toolcarrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotatingsaid mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between saidflywheel and mounting, said fllywheel having a web centrally aperturedto receive the tube to be cut and also having an eccentric aperture, awedge member on said tool carrier projectin through and movable radiallyof said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housed within saidflywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member, a rotatablesleeve concentric with said flywheel and on which said spool is mounted,a driving connection between said sleeve and spool enabling axialshifting movements of said spool relative to said sleeve, a support forsaid sleeve, and means providing an operative driving connection betweensaid sleeve and flywheel.

2. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said toolcarrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotatingsaid mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between saidflywheel and mounting, said flywheel having a web centrally apertured toreceive the tube to be cut and also having an ec- 6 centric aperture, awedge member on said tool carrier projecting through and movableradially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housedwithin said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member,a rotatable sleeve concentric with said flywheel and on which said spoolis mounted, a driving connection between said sleeve and spool enablinaxial shifting movements of said spool relative to said sleeve, asupport for said sleeve, a radial flange on said sleeve, and a drivingconnection between said flange and said flywheel.

3. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said toolcarrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotatingsaid mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between saidflywheel and mounting, said flywheel having a web centrally apertured toreceive the tube to be out and also having an eccentric aperture, awedge member on said tool carrier projecting through and movableradially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housedwithin said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member,a rotatable sleeve on which said spool is mounted, a connection betweensaid sleeve and spool for causing the same to rotate together but toenable axial shifting movements of the spool relative to the sleeve, adriving connection between said sleeve and flywheel for causing conjointrotary movement thereof, a stationary supporting tubular memberconcentric with said sleeve, said tubular member extending through thecentral aperture of the flywheel web, and anti-friction bearings betweensaid tubular member and said sleeve.

4. In a tube cutter, a tool carrier, a rotatable mounting for said toolcarrier in which the latter has radial movement, a flywheel for rotatingsaid mounting and abutting same, a driving connection between saidflywheel and mounting, said flywheel having a web centrally apertured toreceive the tube to be cut and also having an eccentric aperture, awedge member on said tool carrier projecting through and movableradially of said eccentric aperture, said wedge member being housedwithin said flywheel, a spool having a wedge engaging said wedge member,hydraulic means for imparting axial shifting movement to said spool andincluding a piston and cylinder assembly, a rotatable sleeve on whichsaid spool is mounted, a connection between said sleeve and spool forcausing the same to rotate together but to enable axial shiftingmovements of the spool relative to the sleeve, a driving connectionbetween said sleeve and flywheel for causing conjoint rotary movementthereof, a. stationary supporting tubular member concentric with saidsleeve, said tubular member extending through the central aperture ofthe flywheel web, and anti-friction bearings between said tubular memberand said sleeve.

NELSON D. ABBEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,974 Guirl Jan. 10, 1939556,857 Madden Mar. 24, 1896 789,776 White May 16, 1905 1,782,692 LawsonNov. 25, 1930 1,934,997 Singer Nov. 14, 1933 2,262,178 Gest Nov. 11, 191.

